Jack for motor vehicles



Filed Jan. 11, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 e .n 9 R 3 on n T n N 5 5 v! m Wm m 1- Md 1. m

Jan. 2, 1940. o. LANZARONE 2,185,856

JACK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 11, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 aa'/ '5 4-35 7 w 4 7 14' 6/106 9 1* J T e i M 45- LI LT; "22 I 3 4 35 0 h 4 a Z; 2 QT? INVENTOR Oflavao Zarzzarozze H a7 g g gag FRONT R 45 I i 11.5. ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 2, 194% UNITED "STATES" PATENT OFFICE JACK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Ottavio Lanzarone, New York, N. Y. Application January 11, 1939, Serial No. 250,380

7 Claims. (01. 254-861 I This invention relates to new and useful improvements' in a jack for motor vehicles.

The invention has for an object the construction of a jack which is characterized by a housing for attachment on a bottom portion of a mo-v tor vehicle. a vertical arm slidably mounted in the housing and extending from the bottom, and anovel arrangement for extending and retracting said arm.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the use of rack teeth mounted on opposite sides of said arm, the use of gears meshing with said rack teeth and two inter-connecting and dependent transmission systems for turning said gears 13 to extend and retract the arm.

Still further the invention contemplates characterizing the transmission systems by adjacent worm wheels, and it is proposed to'use an electric motor with a pinion simultaneously meshing 20 with said worm wheels to provide the necessary power for operating the transmission systems.

Stillfurther the invention proposes a modified arrangement of the vertical arm by which it may be arranged to engage the ground in various dif- 25 ferent ways.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the ap- 30 pended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 'is a schematic plan view of a vehicle 5 chassis with a front and rear jack constructed according to this invention mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the dashboard of the vehicle provided with the controlling switches.

Fig. 3 is afragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line. 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

vice.

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig.

the chassis l3 of gears for driving both of the transmission sys- Fig. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the detor vehicle, as for example on the front axle l I,

or on the rear transmission housing e12. In Fig. 1

f automobile has been schematically shown with'jacks, according to this invention, mounted on the front axle and upon the 5 housing of the transmission at the rear.

A vertical arm I4 is slidably extended from the bottom of the housing l0 through an opening l5 therein. Rack teeth iii are mounted on one of the sides of the arm l4 and other rack teeth ll 1 on the opposite side. Gears l8 mesh with the rack teeth [6. Other gears i9 mesh with the rack teeth ll. The gears l8 are mountedon a shaft 20 which is 'rotatively supported within the I housing Ill. The gears l9 are mounted on a shaft ,20 rotative within the housing l0.

There is a transmission system for driving the gears I8. This transmission system terminates in a worm wheel 2|. The transmission system includes a shaft 22 rotativelysupported within the housing It and provided with gears 23 meshing with the gearsl8. The worm wheel 2| is mounted on the shaft 22.

Another transmission system is provided for driving the gears l9 and this systemterminates 25 in'a worm wheel 24. The drive system includes a shaft 25 upon which the worm wheel 24 is mounted. This shaft is rotatively supported and is provided with gears 23. Chains 21 engage over the gears 26 and extend across the housing and engage gears 21' mounted on the shaft 28. The shaft 28 is provided with gears 29 meshing with the gears IS. The shaft 28 is also provided with gears 30 engaged by vertically extending chains 3| engaging over gears 32' mounted on the shaft 33 rotative in the housing It. Gears 34 are mounted on the shaft 33 and mesh with the gears l9.

.A pinion 35 engages between the worm gears 2| and 24 and simultaneously meshes with these tems. The pinion 35 is mounted on the shaft 33 of an electric motor 31 mounted within the housing Ill. The housing I0 is provided with a removable cover if! which gives access to the interior parts. Upon the cover l0 there is a cylindrical projection I0 The vertical arm l4 engages into this projection. A piston 38 is mounted on the top of the arm l4 and moves in the cylinder lo and is for the purpose of steadying the vertical arm in its movement up and down. A foot 39 is mounted on the extended end of the vertical arm [4 and is adapted to engage against the ground.

An electric circuit is provided for controlling the motor 31 to rotate in one direction or the other to extend or retract the jack arm I4. The motor is controlled by switches on the dashboard of the vehicle. Fig. 2 illustrates a portion of the dashboard 40 of the vehicle. On the dashboard there is a notation Front indicating the front jack, and immediately below this notation there is a switch 4| imprinted with the word "Up" and a switch 42 imprinted with the word Down. Beneath these switches there is a notation Rear meaning the rear jack. Beneath this notation there is a switch 43 imprinted with the word Up" and a switch 44 imprinted with the word Down" to control the extension and retraction of the rear jack arm.

- In Fig. 6 there is a schematic wiring diagram of both the front and rear jacks. The electric motor of the front Jack, indicated by reference.numeral 31, is shown in an electric circuit controlled by a switch blade 45. The motor 31 is connected with a reversing switch. This reversing switch includes a switch blade 4| 3 and a switch blade 4 I comprising the blades of the switch 4| and adapted to be closed to control rotation of he motor in one direction. There are also switch blades 42 and 42 comprising the switch blades from the switch 42 controlling the rotation of the motor in the other direction. Reference numeral 31 indicates the electric motor of the rear jack. This motor is in a circuit controlled by a switch 45'. The motor 31' is connected with a reversing switch characterized by blades 43 and 43 controlling the operation of the motor in one direction and comprising the switch 43, and blades 44'- and 44 controlling the operation of the motor in the other direction and comprising the switch 44.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the switches 4| and 45 are closed the motor 3! will rotate in one direction causing the pinion 35 to turn and operating the transmission mechanisms which will operate to move the vertical arm |4 upwards. One transmission mechanism operates upon the racks H to move them upwards, and the other transmission mechanism operates at the same rate of speed upon the racks H to assist in moving the vertical arm |4 upwards. The purpose of having the racks on both sides of the vertical arm resides in the fact that there will be no unbalanced forces pushing the vertical arm laterally from one side only. The front jack may be caused to be lowered by closing theswitches 42 and 45 which will cause the front motor to turn in the opposite direction, similarly,

'the rear jack may be caused to be extended or retracted.

In Figs. 7-9 inclusive a modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the construction and arrangement of the vertical arm. According to this form of the invention there is a vertical arm l4 M of the foot I4 by means of a hinge 46. The

section 39 is pivotally mounted on the bottom of the section |4 by means of a hinge 41. These sections 39 and 39 of the foot 39 have an interengaging tongue and groove 48 i) extendibly connect them.

The longitudinal section M is provided with an auxiliary line of rack teeth I6 engageable by gears 49 mounted on the shaft 50 slidably arranged in the housing H1. The shaft 50 is nor-.

wards, and then the plunger 50 re-engaged in a second groove which then holds the shaft 50 extended. In this latter position the gears 49 will mesh with the racks I6. In the former position the gears l8 mesh with the racks l6. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the previous form.

The operation of this form of the device is as follows:

The foot 39 39 may be caused to assume various inclined positions, one of these positions being indicated by the dot and dash lines 39' in Fig. 7, by the manipulation of the shaft 50. When the shaft 50 is in its out position the gears 49 will mesh with the rack teeth I6 and with auxiliary gears 56 mounted on the shaft 22. The auxiliary gears 56 are of larger diameters than the gears 23. The gears 49 are of smaller diameter than the gears I8. When the shaft 50 is in its outermost position the'gears 23 and I8 will be out of mesh with each other. Operation of the motor 31 will now cause the transmission systems to deliver different speeds of motion to the longitudinal sections M and l4 of the vertical arm I4. Because of the different speeds the section |4 will be moved relative to the section |4 and this will cause pivoting of the foot 39, 39b.

It is possible to obtain numerous inclinations of the portions of the foot 39, 39 inclined in one or the other direction, that is, clockwise or anticlockwise from its original position. With this arrangement it is possible to adapt the jack for any particular type of ground over which the vehicle happens to be. It is possible to cause the foot of the jack to better grip the ground, particularly, when the ground is rocky and irregu lar and sloping at the point where the jack is to engage the ground.

After proper relative adjustment of the foot is obtained the shaft 50 is moved to its inward position and the jack operated to raise or lower the vertical arm l4. Now the sections I4 and N of the vertical arm will move as a unit upwards or downwards.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A jack for motor vehicles, comprising a housing for attachment on a bottom portion ofa motor vehicle, a vertical arm slidably extending from the bottom of.said housing, rack teeth on opposite sides of said arm, gears meshing with said rack teeth, a transmission system from the gears on one side of said arm to a worm wheel, another transmission system from the gears on the other side of said arm to another worm wheel for operating at the same ratio as said first-mentioned transmission system, a pinion meshing with said worm wheels, an electric motor for driving said pinion, and an electric circuit for controlling said motor to rotate in one direction or the other, said housing being provided with a cylinder at its top, and said vertical arm having a piston portion working in said cylinder.

2. A jack for motor vehicles, comprising a housing for attachment on a bottom portion of a motor vehicleja vertical arm slidably extending from the bottom of said housing, rack teeth on opposite sides of said arm, gears meshing with said rack teeth, a transmission system from the gears on one side of said arm to a worm wheel, another transmission system from the gears on the other side of said arm to another worm wheel for operating at the same ratio as said first-mentioned transmission system, a pinion meshing with said worm wheels, an electric motor for driving said pinion, and an electric circuit for controlling said motor to rotate in one direction or the other, said first-mentioned transmission system including a shaft supporting said worm wheel, gears upon said shaft, other gears meshing with said gears and meshing with said racks.

3. A jack for motor vehicles, comprising a housing for attachment on a bottom portion of a motor vehicle, a vertical arm slidably extending from the bottom of said housing, rack teeth on opposite sides of said arm, gears meshing with said rack teeth, a transmission system from the gears on one side of said arm to a worm wheel, another transmission system from the gears on the other side of said arm to another worm wheel for operating at the same ratio as said firstmentioned transmission system, a pinion meshing witih-said worm wheels, an electric motor for driving said pinion, and an electric circuit for controlling said motor to rotate in one direction or the other, said first-mentioned transmission system including a shaft supporting said worm wheel, gears upon said shaft, other gears meshing with said gears and meshing with said racks, and said second-mentioned transmission system including gears meshing with the racks adjacent the second transmission system, and several shafts with gears connected by chains and terminating in a shaft supporting the worm wheel.

4. A jack for motor vehicles, comprising a housing for attachment on a bottom portion of a motor vehicle, a verticalarm slidably extending from the bottom of said housing, rack teeth on opposite sides of said arm, gears meshing with said rack teeth, a transmission system from the gears on one side of said arm to a worm wheel, another transmission system from the gears on the other side of said arm to another worm wheel for operating at the same ratio as said firstmentioned transmission system, a pinion meshing with said Worm Wheels, an electric motor for driving said pinion, and an electric circuit for controlling said motor to rotate in one direction or the other, said electric motor being mounted within said housing.

5. A jack for motor vehicles, comprising a housing for attachment on a bottom portion of a motor vehicle, a vertical arm slidably extending from the bottom of said housing, rack teeth on opposite sides of said arm, gears meshing with said rack'teeth, a transmission system from the gears on one side of said arm to a worm wheel, another transmission system from the gears on the other side of said arm to another worm wheel for operating at the same ratio as said firstmentioned transmission system, a pinion meshing with said worm wheels, an electric motor for driving said pinion, and an electric circuit for controlling said motor to rotate in one direction or the other, and including a pair of switches operable to cause the electric motor to rotate in one direction or the other.

6. A jack for motor vehicles, comprising a housing for attachment on a bottom portion of a motor vehicle, a vertical arm slidably extending from the bottom of said housing, rack teeth on opposite sides of said arm, gears meshing with said rack teeth, a transmission system from the gears on one side of said arm to a worm wheel, another transmission system from the gears on the other side of said arm to another worm wheel for operating at the same ratio as said firstmentioned transmission system, 'a pinion 'mesh ing with said worm wheels, an electric motor for driving said pinion, an electric circuit for controlling said motor to rotate in one direction or the other, said vertical arm being formed of longitudinal sections, foot sections on the lower ends of said longitudinal sections and telescopically engaging each other, and a manually operable shift for changing the ratio of said transmissions.

7. A jack for motor vehicles, comprising a housing for attachment on a bottom portion of a motor vehicle, a vertical arm slidably extending from the bottom of said housing, rack teeth on opposite sides of said arm, gears meshing with said rack teeth, a transmission system from the gears on one side of said arm to a worm wheel, another transmission system from the gears on the other side of said arm to another worm wheel for operating at the same ratioas said firstmentioned transmission system, a pinion meshing with said worm wheels, an electric motor for driving said pinion, an electric circuit for controlling said motor to rotate in one direction or be manually moved inwards and outwards as re- 1 quired.

OTTAVIO LANZARONE. 

